Hull City were beaten 4-0 by Premier League opposition under the television cameras on Friday night, but events off the pitch also drew significant attention.
Both Sergej Jakirovic and Liam Rosenior condemned discriminatory chanting by a minority of supporters inside the MKM Stadium during the FA Cup tie.
City took the unusual step of issuing public announcements during the match to address the issue. Stadium announcer Steve Jordan warned fans at half-time and again shortly after the hour mark, confirming that arrests had been made following police reviews of CCTV footage. The club had also released a statement ahead of the sold-out fixture, warning against any form of discriminatory behaviour.
Jakirovic said he did not personally hear the chanting but was clear in his stance.
“This is not the place for this — not in the stadium and not in public. It is not good,” he said. “The stadium is not a place for that, and that is why arrests have been made.”
Former Tigers manager Liam Rosenior, returning to the MKM Stadium for the first time since his departure nearly two years ago, echoed those sentiments. Although he also did not hear the chanting himself, he was firm in his condemnation.
“Without knowing exactly what happened, any discriminatory language is unacceptable,” he said. “The fourth official mentioned something to me, but I was focused on the game and don’t know the details.”
Chelsea Pride, the club’s official LGBTQ+ supporters’ group, also released a statement condemning the chants.
“Tonight, homophobic chanting was once again directed at our supporters. This is utterly unacceptable,” the statement read.
“We acknowledge that Hull City made stadium announcements, confirmed CCTV was being monitored, and that arrests have been made. Action matters. Accountability matters. Consequences matter. But the fact this chant is still being heard in 2026 is a stain on our game.”
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